Wireless ECG system

Abstract

A system for detecting physiological data from a patient and, more particularly, a system for detecting electrocardiograph (ECG) information from a patient and transmitting the information to a central monitoring station via telemetry.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A system for monitoring the physiological data associated with at least one patient comprising, in combination: 
 at least one body electronics unit removably connected to a chest assembly having a plurality of sensors for acquiring physiological signals from a patient, the body electronics unit comprising a transmitter for transmitting the physiological signals;    at least one repeater comprising a receiver for receiving the physiological signals from the body electronics unit and a transmitter for transmitting the physiological signals;    at least one base station comprising a receiver for wirelessly receiving the physiological signals from the at least one repeater, the at least one base station capable of connecting to at least one monitor.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one repeater further comprises a signal conditioning unit, an error correction unit, and a signal compressing unit.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the physiological signals transmitted between the at least one body electronics unit and the at least one repeater are transmitted utilizing the Bluetooth protocol.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the physiological signals transmitted between the at least one repeater and between the at least one base station are transmitted utilizing the Bluetooth protocol.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one base station controls the data collected from the at least one body electronics unit.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one body electronics unit is capable of tagging each digital signal sent to the at least one repeater with an electronic identification number corresponding to the at least one body electronics unit.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of repeaters, the at least one body electronics unit further comprising a switch over protocol for establishing communications with the repeaters.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the chest assembly further comprises: 
 a retaining section having a plurality of electrode connectors for removably connecting to the plurality of sensors;  
 a chest assembly connector attached to the retaining section; and  
 a sensor pin on the chest assembly connector for completing a circuit within the body electronics unit.  
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the chest assembly further comprises: 
 a base layer having a first side and a second side, the first side attached to a plurality of electrically conductive elements, the second side attached to a shielding layer;  
 a first insulating layer positioned above the base layer;  
 a second insulating layer positioned below the base layer.  
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the waveform processing of the physiological signals is conducted in the at least one base station.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the waveform processing of the physiological signals is conducted in a monitor.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the base station is capable of connecting to at least one monitor via snap terminals.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of body electronics units, the plurality of body electronics unit simultaneously transmitting physiological signals to the at least one repeater.  
     
     
         14 . A system for collecting physiological data from at least one patient a plurality of patients comprising, in combination: 
 at least one body electronics unit removably connected to a chest assembly having a plurality of sensors for acquiring physiological signals from a patient, the body electronics unit comprising a transmitter for transmitting the physiological signals;    at least one repeater comprising a receiver for receiving the physiological signals from the body electronics unit and a transmitter for transmitting the physiological signals;    a central base station comprising a receiver for wirelessly receiving the physiological signals from the repeater, the central base station capable of connecting to at least one monitor.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one repeater further comprises a signal conditioning unit, an error correction unit, and a signal compressing unit.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the physiological signals transmitted between the at least one body electronics unit and the at least one repeater are transmitted utilizing the Bluetooth protocol.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the physiological signals transmitted between the at least one repeater and between the central base station are transmitted utilizing the Bluetooth protocol.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the central base station controls the data collected from the at least one body electronics unit.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one body electronics unit is capable of tagging each digital signal sent to the at least one repeater with an electronic identification number corresponding to the at least one body electronics unit.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of repeaters, the at least one body electronics unit further comprising a switch over protocol for establishing communications with the repeaters.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the waveform processing of the physiological signals is conducted in the at least one base station.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the waveform processing of the physiological signals is conducted in a monitor.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the chest assembly further comprises: 
 a retaining section having a plurality of electrode connectors for removably connecting to the plurality of sensors;  
 a chest assembly connector attached to the retaining section; and  
 a sensor pin on the chest assembly connector for completing a circuit within the body electronics unit.  
 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the chest assembly further comprises: 
 a base layer having a first side and a second side, the first side attached to a plurality of electrically conductive elements, the second side attached to a shielding layer;  
 a first insulating layer positioned above the base layer;  
 a second insulating layer positioned below the base layer.  
 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the central base station is capable of connecting to at least one monitor via snap terminals.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of body electronics units, the plurality of body electronics unit simultaneously transmitting physiological signals to the at least one repeater.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of repeaters, the plurality of repeaters simultaneously transmitting physiological signals to the central base station.